News

Florida Democratic Party News Clips — March 15

Posted March 15, 2012

GOP SENATORS STILL HAVE NO REAL ANSWER TO REDISTRICTING QUESTIONS

Trouble brews on congressional plan [Times/Herald] "A coalition of voters groups and the state Democratic Party is suing to derail the Legislature’s new maps of congressional districts…Smith, the Democratic Party chairman, disagrees and expects the trial court to put the redistricting challenges on the fast track. 'We are confident the trial court will see this for what it is,' he said, 'an attempt to skirt the law for another year.'”

FDP Chair Smith takes on Senate leadership [Sunshine State News] "On Tuesday, Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith told reporters that, because the state Supreme Court ruled eight of the 40 districts redrawn for the once-a-decade redistricting invalid, the entire state will need to be redrawn."

Fla. lawmakers giving redistricting another try [AP] "The justices ruled that the Senate map violated a new Fair Districts anti-gerrymandering amendment to the Florida Constitution. That's because the map favored incumbents and Republicans, included districts that weren't compact and failed to follow political and geographic boundaries whenever possible."

A do-over on Senate redistricting [Herald Tribune] "Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith and other critics have called for a major overhaul of the 40 Senate districts."

Romney stumbles on way to Tampa [Tampa Bay Times Editorial] "His losses to Rick Santorum in Alabama and Mississippi this week highlight his weaknesses and reflect the deep divisions within the party."

LEMEIUX "RISES" AGAINST MACK, HITS THE AIR WITH DAMAGING, UNANSWERED ATTACK

LeMieux Rises in Florida [National Review] "Connie Mack now finds himself locked in a tightening race against a guy named George LeMieux."

Stearns' opponents quickly make bribery accusation an issue [Ocala Star Banner] "Jett, a Republican, went public last week with the incendiary allegation that Stearns' backers — with the congressman's knowledge — offered him jobs and financial relief from his campaign expenses in exchange for Jett dropping out of the GOP primary for the new 3rd Congressional District, which spans North Central Florida, including part of Marion County."

Democrat Heather Beaven to run in old Mica district [The Hill] "A Navy cryptologist during Operation Desert Storm, Beaven was chosen by former President Clinton to be one of the first 10 females to serve on a combat-ready vessel. She later managed social programs for former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves (R), and runs an educational organization in Florida."

Flagler's Beaven announces run for Congress [Daytona Beach News-Journal] "'Heather Beaven has a record of service to our country, and she'll be a strong fighter for the middle class families of northeast Florida,' Florida Democratic Party chairman Rod Smith said in a statement. 'We're confident she'll have the resources she needs to win, and Heather's announcement puts the 6th district squarely in play.'"

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